Maine Christian Group Threatens to Repeal Marriage Equality

We are in conversations with the Alliance Defending Freedom, Family Research Council and Citizen Link to provide resources for churches, pastors and Christians who will need legal protections for our religious liberties. We want to discern the possible impact of redefining marriage as well as the remedies. Our priority is to help ensure your opportunity to live out your faith and ministry without interference.

We are exploring the possibility of returning to the ballot again to overturn this egregious new definition of marriage. That may mean another campaign, including a signature drive to get it back on another ballot.

Comments

The definition of "INSANITY" ; Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a deferent result. You fuckers lost. GAME OVER.

Posted by: pdxblueyes | Nov 9, 2012 7:11:25 PM

The reality is that as long as things are allowed to be "put up for a vote" regarding civil rights, then it is probable that the LGBT community would always be at the mercy of the social tides of society. This is why the US Supreme Court must decisively rule on our full equality in US law and society, and settle this social issue of our time once and for all. Of course, since there is no legal or lawful rationale for denying us our equal rights, I trust that our legal system will ultimately protect us from future actions by such bigotted groups.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and let's celebrate and be happy for all the lucky couples in Maine, Maryland and Washington State. Mazaltov!

Posted by: Keith | Nov 9, 2012 7:39:29 PM

I need to shout this: HOW DOES MY MARRIAGE TO A MAN AFFECT YOUR MARRIAGE? Please tell me concretely how my marriage to a person of the same sex affects your marriage. Give me concrete examples how my marriage to someone of the same sex takes away any of your rights or privileges. If my marriage makes you uncomfortable, admit that and we can talk. But if you can't say WHY my marriage to someone of the same sex makes you uncomfortable, then we can have no discussion. We live in a society of freedom of religion. That means that YOU can't cram YOUR religion down MY throat. The laws of Maine, the laws of the US are CIVIL laws, they are NOT CHRISTIAN laws. Therefore, you can't force your view on the entire populace of Maine or the US.

Posted by: Hawthorne | Nov 9, 2012 7:44:37 PM

Unfortunately they have every right to revisit this issue. Maine has a People's Veto. They would have to collect a certain number of signatures on a petition (at least 10% of the total vote
for Governor cast in the last gubernatorial election) in order to get anything put on a ballot. Considering the outcome last Tuesday I can't imagine they would win next time either.
This law means they are already protected: "This chapter does not require any member of the clergy to perform or any church, religious denomination or other religious institution to host any marriage in violation of the religious beliefs of that member of the clergy, church, religious denomination or other religious institution. The refusal to perform or host a marriage under this subsection cannot be the basis for a lawsuit or liability and does not affect the tax-exempt status of the church, religious denomination or other religious institution." So really, what's their beef? Shouldn't they be helping charities with money they raise instead of trying to squash loving relationships?

Posted by: Kerry | Nov 9, 2012 8:14:24 PM

I can't imagine that leaders of the Christian Right would be crazy enough to try to get this issue on the ballot again in a liberal state like Maine. The people of Maine have already voted on this issue twice in 3 years. The public's patience will wear thin. Social conservatives are starting to look like people who can't face defeat. The "silent majority" has spoken in Maine. Why would another round of political bickering produce a different result? It's not like different arguments will be used by either side on another attempt. The leaders of the Christian Right need to turn inward and reassess their relationship to the American people. At some level they really know this already.

Posted by: Mary | Nov 9, 2012 8:33:27 PM

Since I often point out how you're wrong @Mary, this time I can say you have it exactly right. The reality is once marriage equality is in place, particularly in live and let live type states, all but the most zealous of the zealous pretty much forget about it. It quickly becomes a non-issue.

@Kerry: Yes, we do have a People's Veto but I think it's important to realize what we have actually been voting on here in Maine in 2009 and 2012.

2009: The Legislature passed a law allowing same-sex marriage, which was signed by the Governor. Before it could go into effect, opponents mounted a referendum campaign (People's Veto), got the required number of signatures, and got the issue on the ballot. The law was repealed.

2012: Proponents of same-sex marriage drafted legislation, which was approved, then they got enough signatures (which were approved) to put it on the ballot. This time we actually voted on the legislation (as opposed to repealing a law). Once the voter count is certified and the governor signs it (and I don't believe he has any veto authority in this case--it is coming from the people), same-sex marriage will be the law. To get rid of it, it would need to be repealed by the legislature (never going to happen, the people voted for it) or through yet another repeal process (scenario of 2009) which I also doubt is going to happen. I think happy same sex couples will be getting married in Maine in January and for the long future after that...

Posted by: LHN | Nov 9, 2012 9:48:28 PM

@LHN, and you can include my HUSBAND and I as two of those happy same sex couples. :)

Posted by: Kerry | Nov 9, 2012 10:22:59 PM

Where will they get the money for this?

Their base is made up of two groups:

1) Billionaires who use social issues as red meat to build up support for tax breaks;

2) Poor trailer trash who send their life savings in to the charlatans who run anti-gay groups.

Group 1 wasted BILLIONS on this election with no return at all, and aren't going to splash out billions more to fail again next time. And group #2 is bankrupt and facing long-term unemployment in the knowledge economy, so they lack the resources.

Game over.

Posted by: Ha! | Nov 9, 2012 11:26:15 PM

Regarding pdxblueyes's comment about "insanity", if they try again, they would undoubtedly use different campaign tactics. The real problem they'll face is that, after a year or two of same-sex marriages with absolutely no ill effects on the state's straight population, the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) campaigns they've used previously, and any new variation of that, are less likely to work. If they try, "think of the children," they'll have to explain why nothing bad has happened to the children after same-sex marriage became legal. A FUD campaign doesn't work well when everyone has plenty of data to the contrary.

Posted by: Bill | Nov 10, 2012 1:14:21 AM

Your opportunity to live out your faith and ministry without interference.

You lost by almost 6 percentage points. You're not going to win. Give it up, fundies.

Posted by: Tyler | Nov 10, 2012 12:44:54 PM

I cannot stop laughing at this article. This is such an act of desperation and stupdity. The idea that their religious liberties are in jeaopardy make absolutely no sense. If you don't like marriage equality, no one is forcing you to accept it or participate in it. Basically, if you minded your own business and not worry what GLBT people are doing in the privacy of their bedroom, there would not be an issue.

Posted by: Bernie | Nov 10, 2012 5:11:46 PM

Could they raise and spend a few more hundred million dollars in Maine? I am sure that the TV and radio stations up would appreciate the extra cash. Maybe they could do a similar campaign every year for a couple of decades.
Maybe they could replace lobster as a money maker.

Posted by: chuck | Nov 11, 2012 2:29:20 PM

Interestingly, I followed the link to this group's website. There was an interesting article by Russell D. Moore (don't know him from Adam) that called for civility and respect towards our newly re-elected President.

Regardless, I think those people will try again. And again. And again. If not in Maine, then elsewhere. Like the GOP that they support, those "christian" bigots will not accept that the tide has turned in their disfavor.

Maybe it's time for the religious right to realize that they are actually the religious wrong. If I were a religious person, I'd suggest to the teavangelicals that God ordained that Tuesday's elections result in Mr. Obama's reelection and marriage equality in four states.